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(Story on A4)
CHINA DEPLOYS 'THE MONSTER' DESPITE DE-ESCALATION PACT By Rex Espiritu and Rachelle Tonelada
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 139• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024 •
HOURS after China agreed to deescalate maritime tensions with the Philippines, Beijing on Wednesday deployed the world's largest coast guard vessel, dubbed “The Monster,” to Ayungin Shoal and to Panganiban Reef in the West Philippine Sea. In a statement released after the 9th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea (BCM) in Manila,
China likewise called on the Philippines "to stop maritime infringement and provocation at once" and to stabilize “China-Philippines relations from further deterioration.” “Philippine side to…earnestly abide by the provisions of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), return to the right track of properly handling disputes through dialogue and consultation, jointly manage the situation at Ren'ai Jiao (Ayungin Shoal) with the Next page
US to pull out missile system out of PH Typhon system was deployed only for Balikatan exercises — AFP By Rex Espiritu
A
POWERFUL mid-range missile system that Washington deployed to the Philippines in April for the Balikatan joint military exercises will be returned to the United States in September, a Philippine military spokesman told Kyodo News. Army Col. Louie Dema-ala con-
POWERFUL WEAPON. File photo shows a truck towing a missile launcher which was deployed during the PH-US Balikatan exercises last April. It was the first time that the Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system was deployed by the US in the Philippines.The MRC launcher can fire the Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) and the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM). US Army firmed the Typhon missile system will be returned to the US but gave no rea-
son as to why Washington stopped the deployment.
The ground-based mid-range capability (MRC) that could launch Tomahawk and SM-6 missiles was also used for a simulated firing drill during a bilateral exercise in the South China Sea in May. “There’s currently no plans to station any US forces in the Philippines…to include the MRC,” said a senior US defense official who asked not to be named. The deployment of the Typhon missile system was called out by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who called for the resumption of the production of intermediate-range missiles that were banned under a now-scrapped treaty with the US. “Today, it is known that the United States not only produces these missile systems but has already brought them to Europe for exercises, to Denmark. Next page
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez
Speaker defends PBBM foreign policy; to focus on budget okay By Joel E. Zurbano HOUSE Speaker Martin Romualdez defended President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s foreign policy on the West Philippine Sea, stating that it only rebalanced the country’s foreign relations from the previous administration’s China pivot under former President Rodrigo Duterte. The Philippines has heightened its ties with the United States and other security partners like the European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Japan, emphasizing the significance of freedom of navigation and international law in contested waters. Romualdez explained that Marcos' approach is about balance rather than pivoting towards the US, as the previous administration had sought closer relations with China and Russia under an independent foreign policy. He also highlighted the current president’s stance on the Philippines not instigating wars nor yielding to any foreign power. The Speaker also said Congress will prioritize the passage of a bill providing Next page
DTI WANTS SRPS STREAMLINED BUSINESS / B4
FL IMELDA’S 95TH. Former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos speaks during the
celebration of her 95th birthday. The President and First Lady Liza Marcos- Araneta led family and close friends in marking another milestone in the Marcos matriarch’s life. Facebook page of FL Liza Araneta-Marcos
NBI: There are now three Alice Guos in gov’t records By Macon Ramos-Araneta BAMBAN Mayor Alice Guo may not have a monopoly over her supposed name, as more individuals bearing the same name are being found in the Philippines, but she remains the only
Chinese national who managed to become the mayor of a municipality in Tarlac, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said on Wednesday. The lawmaker pointed out that the ongoing Senate investigation Next page
Binay walks out on Cayetano SENATOR Nancy Binay on Wednesday walked out from the inquiry of the Senate Committee on Accounts after a heated exchange with panel chairman Senator Alan Cayetano. The committee was conducting
an inquiry regarding the supposed increased funding for the new Senate building. Cayetano launched the inquiry into the matter after Senate President Next page
REP. CARL CARI: LEYTE LEADER MY DISTRICT / A3
Vatican stays out of divorce issue, defers to local church By Rachelle Tonelada THE Vatican is leaving debates on the recent proposals to legalize divorce in the Philippines up to religious leaders and organizations in the country, according to Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. “The question is within the competence of the (Catholic) Bishop's Conference of the Philippines and the individual bishops,” Gallagher said in a press conference in Manila. The Vatican envoy is currently in the country for a Next page five-day official visit.
HOUSE CLEANING. Workers conduct repair and cleaning activities at the Congress of the Philippines in preparation for the 3rd State Of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 22,2024. Manny Palmero